Growl

Spencer says that growling makes it ever-more-possible to open something that's stuck.  Can't get into the pickle jar? Growl while you twist.  Ashtyn totally buys into the growl, but she has a tiny little voice, so it's funny.

Last night she came with me to my niece's house.  We went to do her toenails, since she's 8 months pregnant and on bedrest.  Heather chose a polish color that just would not open.  She tried to open it.  I tried.  My other niece tried.  My grand-niece tried.  My other niece tried again.  I tried again.

Ashie said, "Mom you have to growl. Let me try."  So she takes this bottle of nail polish, growls, and gets it open.

I said, "Yeah, after we loosened it up for you."  She didn't miss a beat. She just said, "Whatever. It's the growl."

Going Home?

My family moved to Sacramento, California, when I was 15 years old.  I finished high school there, I went to college there, I got married there, we had our first baby there.  I lived in Sacto for 7 years, but they were very formative years, and I often tell people I grew up there.

Spencer moved to Sacramento with a high school friend and two former mission companions.  One of them, Dave, was married just three months after we were.  He and his wife moved into the same (very cheap) apartment complex where we were living.  We spent quite a bit of time with them. 

Dave and Susie had been married just over a year when they had their first baby, a girl.  Susie was very protective of her little one, but sometimes she'd let me babysit.  Once Spencer and I took the baby to my parents' home while we were babysitting.  We went to make a "quick" visit to someone, and pretty soon we'd left the baby in my parents' care for two hours.  I felt terrible for taking advantage of them.  I also NEVER told Dave and Susie.  :)

Dave and Susie were both originally from Utah, just as we were.  Short after we moved back to Utah, so did they.  So even though our oldest daughters were both born in the Sacramento area, they've both lived over 20 years in Utah--they are Utah kids.

Dave and Susie's daughter just got a mission call.  She is serving in Sacramento Spanish speaking.  We are thrilled for her!

Annual Breast Exam

This morning I had my yearly mammogram.  Yes, I am that old; also, with breast cancer on both sides of my family, it is just the wise thing to do.

It is not the fun thing to do, however. 

When I called for my appointment I asked for the earliest appointment they could find for me.  Therefore, I was the first appointment of the day.  I'm glad, because that gave me very little time to sit and wait and worry about it.

Mammograms are not fun, but in my experience they aren't all as bad as everyone makes them out to be.  In my experience, some of them are as awful as everyone makes them out to be.

Today's photo session was seriously great.  The technician was awesome.  It still hurt, don't get me wrong.  But she was careful and kind and thoughtful and helpful.  Best. mammogram. ever.

Three more words I never thought I'd say together!

***

P.S.  Breast cancer is ugly.  It is invasive.  It is a killer.  Please, please, please...do your monthly self-breast exams (celebratory grope) and as soon as the doctor tells you it is time, get your annual mammogram!

Sweet, Tender Mercies

When I started working for this corporation 5 years ago, I was replacing a woman named Jessica.  Jessica was having their first baby, so the division got special permission to hire her replacement two months before she left.  That allowed her to train a replacement (me) and work on some projects before her baby came.  I became sure that if we had really known each other, I would really love Jessica.

Enter the blogging world and Facebook, and Jessica is now someone I love very much.

Today I received a text.  It was from a local area code, but I did not recognize the number.  I decided to open the text, and there was a picture of Jessica and OUR SISTER HILL!  Jessica's husband is working on a Master's degree, and they are living in Indiana for the summer.  So Jess went and found our daughter, took her some treats, and sent me a picture.

What a wonderful treat!  What a kind thing to do!  What a cherished friend!

Sweet Memories

On Tuesday, July 31, our son was set apart as a full-time missionary for our church.  Here is a picture of the group of boys we've seen a lot of at our house for the past two months:



Craig, Chris, Tay, Ryan, Logan giving "The Smoulder"

 These boys are singers.  They are worthy priesthood holders.  They are fabulous men.

Ryan, Chris, Jace, Taylor, Craig, Logan, and Landon (above)

Here they are after Tay was set apart.  This was after the tears had mostly subsided.  The Spirit in our home was strong.

Tay was blessed with many things, and after the stake presidency left, we gathered as a family (we consider these young men part of our family) and shared the things we remembered about the blessing as well as any advice we had with Tay, who wrote his thoughts, feelings, and impressions in his jounral as we went.

One of the things Tay was admonished to do was to share his experiences with his "dear sister," who is also serving a mission.  That was sweet to me, as I pray that our children will be friends throughout their lives.

After Tay was set apart, he hugged each of the brethren in the circle (his dad, President Hansen, President Wilson, President Watson, Bishop Donat, Uncle Derek, Uncle Brant).  Then he hugged me.  Then he went straight to Landon and then to Ashtyn.  More heart pictures.

We took some pictures.  I love that the "big boys" let Landon (and encouraged him to) photo bomb their group pix.

Everyone left at about midnight.  It was a long, sweet night.

At 5:30 a.m., Logan showed up at the door.  Tay and Chris had planned to attend a temple session, leaving our home at 6:00.  I went out to the living room to get the door.  Tay had beat me to it, and he and Logan were hugging when I got out there.  I heard Logan say, "Is it OK if I just hang here till you go?"  Friends are so important, and we are grateful for these fabulous young men, who have really lifted and encouraged one another.  We've loved Logan since he was about 3.  We met Chris when the boys were in 3rd grade.  The others are high school/choir buddies, and they are seriously wonderful.  There are many more like them, all of whom are either on or preparing for missions.  Extraordinary!
It hasn't been quite 24 hours since we left T at the MTC.  It wasn't as hard for me to leave him as it was to leave Bri.  I think mostly that's because he was SO ready.  I know he was nervous, but he was also ready and anxious to go.  We stayed busy yesterday.  Landon cleaned Taylor's stuff out of "his" room (mostly).  Yesterday was just a beautiful day, filled with gratitude for so many blessings.

But today?  Today I'm wondering what our son is doing, who he's with, if he slept, how he's faring, if he's getting along with everyone, etc.  My heart aches a little.  I hope there will be a letter soon. 

The Man Who Holds My Heart

Last night our oldest son was set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  More on that in a bit.  For now, I want to tell you about my eternal companion.

Taylor had invited about 6 of his friends to join us in our home for his setting apart.  These young men are fabulous people who feel like our own boys in many respects.  We were also joined by our bishop, two of my brothers, and a sister-in-law. When the stake presidency came to our home, they made it a very full house.  President Hansen and Spencer stood in the entry way, quietly talking for a moment while everyone was exchanging handshakes and greetings.

After everyone had been greeted and seated, Spencer took the lead in conducting the "meeting."  He was gracious and marvelous as he welcomed everyone to our home.  He called on Becky to pray (thank you, Beck!), and he turned the time over to the stake president.  President Hansen outlined how the evening would go, which included testimonies from me and Spencer. 

As he was about to stand and invite Tay to sit in the chair to be set apart, Spencer gently said, "President, these young men have been singing together for a long time.  I think it would invite the Spirit of the Lord to be here if they sang for us.  Would that be alright?"  President Hansen was in agreement, so the seven boys (Taylor, Logan, Chris, Ryan, Craig, Jace, and Jake) stood together and sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." 

I love those young men, but even more, I was so grateful for my wonderful sweetheart.  He is a good man.  He is an exceptional husband--so much more than I ever thought I would have!  He is a terrific father--what would our family be without him?  He is a worthy priesthood bearer, who has more than just priesthood authority.  He is authorized and worthy to hold priesthood POWER, and I am so grateful for him!

After everyone had gone home, Spencer stayed up visiting for a few minutes with Taylor and Landon.  I don't know what the conversation was, but I walked out to get a drink of water, and my heart took a picture of my three men smiling and talking together in the kitchen.

The One Where My Baby Gets to Drive

Landon told me a couple of months ago that he wanted to drive Taylor to the MTC.  I told him he needed his permit in order to do that.

Sunday our son--who never cracks a book--spent the entire afternoon reading the driving manual.  Yesterday he took his written test and passed.

I spent several hours last night riding around with our son.  We took back roads, busy roads, the freeway.  I taught him how to use cruise control.  I reminded him to turn on the lights.  I told him if the car in front of him pushes his brakes, it would be a good time to stop accelerating.  I told him that I loved him a lot, because I NEVER took one of the other kids for drives just to practice, ESPECIALLY on the day they got their permit.

Landon must be my favorite.  I should have told him that.

Sharing and Making Memories -- Toni

There was a family in Georgia when Spencer served his mission who really loved him and his companion.  Maybe they loved all of the missionaries, I don't know.  But Spencer was already sharing Christmas cards when we were married, and we have continued to do that with this wonderful family for the past 24 years.

When Taylor was born, Toni sent a darling church outfit for Tay.  It was a size 2T.  It was the cutest little outfit with black pants, a white shirt, a black bow tie, and a red plaid vest.  I thought it was very kind of her to send something so darling, and I remember thinking, "It will be FOREVER before our baby wears this outfit."

Of course, it wasn't forever.  And one day I thought, "Taylor has definitely outgrown his church clothes.  What are we going to do?"  And I looked in the kids' closet, and there was that darling outfit, which fit him perfectly.  He looked so cute, and it didn't cost us a dime (which was a really big deal).  I was so grateful that Toni had had the foresight to buy something that would fit our baby when he got bigger, and ever since then I've bought larger clothes for baby showers.

That was also the moment when I totally fell in love with Toni.

Since Georgia in the 1980's, Wil and Toni have been stationed at Air Force bases in Maryland and South Dakota.  They are now retired in Mississippi.  Their children have grown up, and their youngest (?) son now works for the Church here in Utah.  Toni came to visit this week, and we had the blessing to meet with her last night.  I can't even tell you how much I love this woman, and I am so grateful we got to meet.  I hope it won't be another 24 years before we meet again.  I also hope to meet Wil someday.  Maybe a trip to Mississippi will be on our horizon!

Happy Hilladay

Since T leaves on Wednesday, we held Hilladay early this year.  Here is a quick overview:

• Go to Orem and paint north and south gables and beneath ramp at Grandpa and Grandma's house.
• Have lunch at Firehouse Subs
• Drive to Morgan and tube the Weber River
• Go home and shower
• Go to the stake barbecue for dinner
• Laugh a lot
• Do some sleeping
• Get sunburned

• Have a fabulous time!

A Group of Four Words I Never Thought Would Come From My Mouth

"We need a lizard."

Landon is proving himself quite a zookeeper.  In addition to loving our dog, he has been keeping fish.  He's done a good job of keeping the aquarium clean and taking care of the fish, and he's had a lot of fun designing the tank, etc.

This week he sold his iPod and bought another aquarium, along with some bark and a heat lamp and a water dish.  Yesterday we went to PetSmart and adopted a long-tailed lizard and some meal worms.  He had to have a parent or guardian there to sign the adoption papers.  I promise this was not my idea, and I guarantee that I will NOT be the reptile-keeper.  EVER.  But Landon has shown that he is responsible enough for this, and he has been willing to pay for it.

So, please welcome the newest member of our family, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  (Do you think Landon will actually read any Longfellow in celebration of his namesake?  Yeah, me neither.)